Mining machine



4 MINING MACHINE Filed Oct. 17, 1921 J a! i 12 10 1| .1 1 k Q 15 1H7 law /1.. 1 1

155. 8 v i n 8 1,5

Patented Jan. 11, 1927.

nnirso STATES PATENT ()FFlQE.

MORRIS P. HOLMES, OF CLAREMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO SULLIVAN MACHINERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

MINING MACHINE.

Application filed October 17, 1821. Serial No. 508,389.

My invention relates to mining machines.

It has for its object to provide an improved mining machine adapted to have its cutter bar adjusted while the machine is working in a narrow seam. A further object of my invention is to provide an improved machine of the character set forth wherein it is made possible for the adjustment of the bar to be facilitated and speeded up, all necessity for digging away the roof to permit the removal of the frame connections and bar pins being eliminated.

in the accompanying drawings I have shown for purposes of illustration one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a mining machine equipped with this form of my improvement.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, showing the machine cutting in a narrow seam.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on line 3-3 of Fi 1.

Fig lis a sectional view on line 44 of Fig. 1.

In this illustrative construction, I have shown a longwall mining machine, including atrame or casing 1, of the type slidable on the mine bottom on its own bottom and adapted to be propelled relative to the bot tom by means of a flexible feeding member 2 operatively connected to a feed operating member 3 which is in turn driven from the mining machine motor 4 through connections not shown, the motor also being operatively connected through connections not shown to a cutter bit carrying cutter chain 5 rotatable on a cutter bar 6. This bar during cutting extends laterally from the machine as indicated in 1 andis adapted to be held in a longitudinally extending position during transport or in a laterally extending position at either side of the machine during cutting in opposite directions, by operative connections between the machine head 7 and the bottom portion or shoe 8 including a pin 9 receivable in a vertically extending hole 10 in the head, a similar pin 9 also being connected between the head, bar, and shoe in a laterally located hole 10 as illustrated, when the bar is in a lateral position.

In my improved connection between the head 7 and shoe 8, shown in detail in Fig. 3,

it will be noted that the pin 9 is formed in two sections 12 and 13 pivotally connected at a point substantially midway between their ends :t 14, the lower section 13 being threaded at 15 in such a manner as to be receivable in a correspondingly threaded opening in the shoe 8 while the upper end of the upper section 12 has preferably integrally united therewith a suitable nut 16, which acts through a washer l7 upon'removahle, oppositely disposed, similar bushings 18 received in the hole or aperture 10 in the heady T, the pin and bushings uniting to form a hushed clamping means operable upon turning of the nut 16 to clamp a spacing member 19, herein a sleeve, in engagement with the lower end of the lower bushing and the upper surface of the plate or shoe 8, and thereby provide a rigid front head in the desired manner.

In my improved bar holding means, shown in detail in Fig. l, it will be noted that in a similar opening 10 in the head a single bushing 20 is provided having a suitable shoulder 21 on its upper end and having its lower end extending only part way to the shoe 8', while the pin. 9 is of the same construction as hereinbefore described. Thus, the adjustment of the nut 16 on the upper end of the section 12 when the lower threaded end of the section 13 is threaded intothe plate 8, in this form of my invention acts to press the shoulder 21 on the bushing toward the plate 8 in-such a manner as to produce the desired rigid construction.

As a result of my-im1'n-ovement, it will be observed that it is possible for an operator working in anarrow seam and desiring to swing the bar 6 on its pivot, to do so without removing the machine from the face or digging away the roof, it only being necessary to have very limited space in order to permit withdrawal of the sectional pins 9 comprising the connected elements 12, 13 and resultant free removal of the bushing or bushings and spacing members. Specifically. it will be noted that after the nuts 16 have been rotated to free the pins from the plate 8 and while' the members 12, 18 are being withdrawn, as soon as the element 12 has been completely withdrawn it may swing about its pivotal connection to the member 13 to a position at right angles to the latter and in such a manner as to enable the whole pin to be withdrawn in a space of the height of half the length of the pin. In Tact, it will bc noted that when my invention is utilized with a machine of the type shown herein having a head "lot less height than the-body of the machine, it is possible for the bar to be adjusted when working in a seam of substantially the height of the machine.

lVhile I have in this application specifically described one form which my invention may assume in practice, it wililbe understood that this form of the :same has beenshown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. Incombi-nation with .a mining machine having separated frame portions, of-connecting means disposed between and connecting said portions including a connecting element composed of inseparable ipivotally connected parts, and means surrounding said element for maintainingsaid parts in rigid relation.

2. In-combination with a mining machine having separated frame portions, of connecting means disposed between and connecting said portions including a connecting ele ment composed of inseparable ,pivotally connected parts, and means comprising aisleeve surrounding the pivotal connection between said parts providing a lateral support rfor maintaining said parts in rigid relation.

3. In combination with a mining machine having separated frame portions (having apertures therein, of connecting means disposed between said portions and engaging the apertures therein including-a. connecting element composed of inseparable -pivotally connected parts, and means surrounding said element for maintaining said parts in rigid relation.

4. In combination with aminin-g machine having separated "frame portions a'nda cutter bar swingable between said portions, of bar lockingvmeans engaging said frame Eporti-ons and extending through said bar including an element composed of inseparable pivotally connected parts, saideleinent being removable from said frame portions in a space-less than the length thereof.

5. In combination with a mining machine having separated frame portions, one ofsaid portions having an aperture therein and :a recessed cutter bar swingable between said portions, of bar locking means includinga hollow locking pindisposedin said aperture and projecting into the recessed bar, and connecting means extending through said hollow pin and engaging said frame portions including-a connecting element composed of a plurality of inseparable pivotally connected parts, said connecting element being removable from said frame portions in a space less than the length thereof.

6. In combination with a mining machine having separated frame portions and a cutter bar swingable between said portions, of

bar locking means disposed between and engaging said frame portlons and extend ing through said bar including an element composed of inseparable pivotally connected parts, and means surrounding said connecting element for maintaining said parts in rigid relation.

7 In combination with a mining machine havinw separated frameportions, said portions laying apertures (formed therein one of which is threaded, and a cutter bar swingable between said portions, of bar locking .means comprising a hollow locking pin carried in the aperture one of said frame portions and engaging said :bar, and means extending through said pin and bar and threadedly engaging the aperture in said other portion, said latter means includingan elementrcomposed of inseparable pivotally connected parts. 7

8. In combination withiainining machine having separated frame portions, said portions having apertures formed therein one of which is threaded, and a cutter bar .s-wingable between said portions, of 'bar locking means comprising (a ihollow looking pin carried in the aperture in one of said frame portions and engagingsaid bar, and means extending through said :pin and bar and threadedly engaging the aperture in said other portion,zsaid latter :means includving an elementicomposed of inseparable-connected parts, said locking pin providing a lateral support for [maintaining said parts in irigid relation.

9. -Ilnicombination with a mining machine having separated frame :portions, one of which :has an :aperture formed therein, and a cutter bar swingable between :said :portions, of ibar locking means comprising a hollow locking pin carried in said aperture and engaging said bar, and meansdisposeid between anche'nga'ging said portionsnnd extending :through said pin and bar including an element-composed of a plurality of 'flexibly connected parts, said element being removable trom said .frame portions in a space less than the dength thereof.

10. In combination witha mining machine having separated apertured frame portions and a cutter bar swingabl'e-betweensaid portions, of bar 'lockingmeans iincluding an ele- :ment insertible Ithrough the aperture in one of said portions and through said bar into engagement with said otherrportion, said element being composed of inseparable *pivotally connected parts.

11. The combination with .a mining machine having separated frame portions and lit) a cutter bar swingable therebetWeen, of means connected to said frame portions and engaging said bar for locking the latter to said frame portions including a pin having an aperture therein, and means disposed in said aperture for holding said pin in position including a plurality of inseparable pivotally connected parts, said holding means being removable from said frame in a space less than the length thereof.

12. The combination with a mining machine having a machine frame and a cutter bar swingable thereon, of means to lock said cutter bar in operative position to said frame including a locking member connected to said frame and engaging said bar and composed of a plurality of longitudinal- 1y inseparable hinged parts, said locking member being removable from said frame in a space less than the length thereof.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

MORRIS P. HOLMES. 

